Planning, Landscape & the Natural Heritage

Definitions

PAN 65 defines Open Space as;

Open space therefore includes all greenspaces and civic spaces that contribute to the amenity of an area regardless of accessibility or ownership.  Greenspace consists of any vegetated land or structure, water or geological feature within or adjoining settlements.  Civic space includes civic squares and market places and any paved or hard landscaped areas with a civic function.

Purpose of this Guidance

This guidance sets out an outline brief for an audit of open space in or around settlements. An audit of existing open space is an important first step in progressing towards a strategy, including:

• understanding the resource that is there;

• the functions it serves; and

• whether it meets the needs of users adequately.

SNH is making partnership funding available to support open space audits.  This document is intended as a framework against which proposals can be considered.

The brief for an audit will vary with local circumstances but the following should be seen as a minimum specification with which individual audits should be consistent.  Implementing audits with strong elements of consistency will allow the collation of information on open space at a regional and national level.  This will assist also in developing open space measures as an input to wider sustainability indicators. 

The outline specification suggests aims; a methodology; and key outputs for an open space audit that will provide a sound base on which to develop an open space strategy.

Aims

The aims of an audit will be to:

• provide information that will enable development of an open space strategy and inform related strategies and plans; identify deficiencies (or surpluses) in the extent, type, quality, accessibility and connectivity of open space;
• examine levels of use of spaces and the facilities within them, and the needs and aspirations of local communities with regard to these;
  
• assess open space as a community and environmental resource and its potential to improve people’s quality of life and create more sustainable settlements;
• examine maintenance requirements and costs to inform local authority budget and Best Value decisions.

The audit should also take into account areas of countryside, including woodland, encapsulated within or adjacent to a settlement which contribute, or have the potential to contribute, to the recreational or educational needs of the settlement, including access to the countryside, local biodiversity, and landscape character.

Methodology

To meet the aims set out above an audit will need to record:

• the type, functions, location and maintenance requirements of open spaces. PAN 65 gives a typology of open space that provides a useful basis for the assessment of open space and the setting of open space policies;
• an assessment of the quality and condition of facilities and fitness for purpose;
• levels of use, the needs and aspirations for open space by the local community, and the value placed on existing resources. This should include a hierarchy to distinguish spaces of strategic, neighbourhood and local importance, and an assessment of the different functions they perform;
• an evaluation of the existing resources against the identified needs and aspirations, such as to identify areas of deficiency or surplus and other issues and opportunities.

The details of the approach taken to assessing type, function and quality will vary with local circumstances reflecting the availability of existing datasets. If resources are limited, an audit may have to focus on priority areas. Issues to consider include:

•  the use of GIS to examine the relationship between open space and the development plan and other strategies. See here for an example from South Ayrshire;
•  the collation of existing local authority databases (e.g. grounds maintenance, sports facilities, play areas) to bring these together on to a common base is likely to be a key stage in the audit;
• aerial photography or satellite imagery may complement existing databases or on the ground surveys;
• a minimum size for the spaces to be recorded; one example is 0.2 ha for playing fields - the size of a mini-soccer pitch;
• a qualitative assessment of fitness for purpose will be useful.  For example, if the open space provides a sitting place for the elderly - is it easily accessible? Does it have a pleasant aspect?
• an assessment of quality and adequacy of maintenance will be required;
• accessibility of open spaces should be subject to an appropriate measure, in terms of distance in space or time from user communities, to enable the development of appropriate target standards for different types of open space;
• a hierarchy of open spaces can help distinguish between spaces of strategic, local and neighbourhood importance, and increase understanding of the functions they perform;
• for strategically located open space like public parks, accessibility by public transport should be considered too.

• Assessing values, needs and aspirations will require some form of market research survey. The most appropriate approach will vary but should include the use of some or all of community or user surveys; focus groups or a citizens panel. The assessment should take into consideration the views of local residents, businesses and community and special interest groups in the area, including sports and leisure organisations.
• The potential for developing and agreeing a methodology which involves or can be implemented by local community groups, schools or colleges should be explored.

A final key role of an audit will be to identify issues to be addressed through the open space strategy or other policies, for example in a development plan. In part this role will be met by comparing the information gathered on the types and functions of the existing open space against the expressed needs and aspirations and any appropriate standards.  This process should identify areas of deficiency or surplus in terms of access to different types or functions of open space, and other issues and opportunities to be addressed by a strategy.

Key Outputs

An audit should produce the following key outputs:

• a map of open space, (using GIS) categorised according to the typology set out in PAN 65; see here for an example from South Ayrshire Council.

• an analysis of existing open space provision, in terms of size, function, level of use, catchment, accessibility, levels of use, and community perspectives;

• An evaluation of areas or types of deficiency, whether in terms of function, location, quantity, accessibility, management, or quality; and any areas or types of surplus.

The audit must provide a sound platform on which the local authority can develop an Open Space Strategy. The Strategy will use the information gathered by the audit to assess current and future open space needs, set standards for open space provision and establish clear policies and priorities for action. SNH can assist in the development of an open space strategy following the completion of an audit.